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to this sweet temptation.
    â€œWe could do much for each other,” he murmured.
    â€œWhy do you think I could help you, even if I wanted to?”
    â€œBecause you are the answer to the first line of the riddle that has led me here. You must be the blackbird of the dawn.”
    â€œI don’t know what you are talking about. Let me go!” Her knee rose.
    He jumped aside.
    She grabbed for the door. She opened it a hand’s breadth, then it slammed closed. Spinning, she saw Nathan leaning his hand against it. Her heart contracted as he closed the distance between them, for she knew it was not only her father’s gold he wanted. His gaze strayed along her, making her fear her clothes had become transparent.
    Her breath burned. “I can’t help you.”
    â€œYes, you can. You are the blackbird of the dawn.”
    â€œI don’t know what you’re babbling about.”
    â€œAurora is dawn. Raven is blackbird. That is you.” His hand edged along her shoulder. “Stuart Powell left a single clue to find his gold. You.”
    â€œMe?” She slapped his hand away. “I do not know anything about the Raven. If I did, I would have hired a crew myself to find it.” Sliding away, she laughed. “Legend! That is all it is.”
    â€œDon’t you realize that you are the proof that the treasure really exists?”
    â€œOr that my father wanted the last laugh.” She put her hand to her aching head. The last time she had hurt this bad was when one of her uncles—she could not remember which one—had laid into her with the lash for daring to contradict him.
    â€œWe shall talk more tomorrow,” Nathan said sharply. “You are going to bed now.”
    â€œNot with you!”
    He smiled icily. “I have never fantasized about bedding an urchin who cannot even stay on her feet.”
    She wanted to accuse him of lying because she could not have mistaken the desire in his touch. Or had she? She knew nothing of men. At Yellow Hal’s place, it was simple. Gold in exchange for pleasure.
    Nathan pressed on her shoulders, so she sat on the bed. “Rest. You have to be able to walk out to the Blindman’s with me.” He pulled a shirt from a cupboard and tossed it to her. “Why don’t you change into something that will not draw every eye?”
    â€œThank you.”
    â€œDon’t thank me. I’m going to find your father’s ship, Rory, and you are going to help me.”
    â€œI will not—”
    â€œYou are going to help me.” His eyes became slits. “Whether you want to or not.”
    Rory looked out the windows behind the bed. She had not noticed them last night. Nothing but water. Her stomach lurched. Had Nathan set sail?
    â€œDon’t be silly,” she whispered. “He will not leave Port Royal until he gets what he wants.”
    She turned as the door opened. Nathan was silhouetted against the glare off the water. The breeze pulled his shirt against his muscular body and accented his lean legs that were bare beneath his breeches.
    â€œEnjoying the view?” His grin broadened. “I am.”
    She jumped away from the windows to keep the bright light from outlining her body through the thin cotton shirt. His low laugh sent heat flying up her cheeks. Grabbing her kerchief off the table, she ignored the blood dried on it. “Thank you for letting me stay here last night.”
    â€œMy pleasure.” He slipped a finger beneath the loose collar of her shirt. “Or it could have been my pleasure.”
    â€œNot likely.”
    He laughed as she tied her hair up in the kerchief. “You are going to make some poor man very miserable, Rory.”
    â€œI have told you all I know about the Raven. Step aside and let me leave.”
    â€œI thought you might want to stay on the Vengeance. ”
    â€œStay here? With you?”
    His smile fell into a frown. “The Raven was your